Something that I picked up watching Angel’s swing over and over (extensive footage) is that he does not lower his head in the downswing (snead squat). I wonder how he gets away with his head basically staying the same through transition.
Cabrera’s demeanor is striking…confident, decisive, determined, happy…he genuinely appeared to be unafraid and having fun. The way he carried himself was enviable…and to think he was playing to win the Masters! If it was just an act, then it was totally convincing.
While we all have different personalities and rhythms, it would make a good highlight/training reel to simply show Cabrera’s shots on those last 6 holes, including his preshot routine for each. All golfers should watch/ re-watch…especially kids, as well the pros who are known slow players.
If legend is correct, fast play didn’t seem to harm Count Yogi. Maybe it’s an overlooked fundamental.
I had the chance to play with Cabrera a few times in Europe in the 90’s…He was always a strong player- same action as now. He seems to be a better putter on the faster greens than they get for the most part in America rather than Europe- case in point has won majors at Augusta and Oakmont…2 of the fastest most sloping green complexes you will ever find.
I spoke with Louis Brown the other day and he told me about being in a sudden death playoff against Angel back in 98 for the Jamacian Open title. It went 6 holes. Cabrera drove a 4 par and eventually won the playoff. He said not much has changed in his swing or demeanor. He was pretty much an unknown player at the time… but he could see greatness coming.
Does anyone still have the footage recorded?
My wife erased it… I forget to tell her to keep it. It would be fun to see those shots… or Scott’s as well.
Here’s an article on how well Cabrera played down the stretch, and a looping video of his shot into 18.
sports.yahoo.com/blogs/golf-devi … -golf.html
On a much more serious note, Adam Scott on Conan Live:
If you look at the caddy view swing I posted the last page, from Bradley’s site, you see Carbrera moving his weight to the outside of his right foot on the backswing and a left arm at the top that looks bent to 90 degrees. Is the left arm in this position acting as a clutch to help him contain his weight? Modern golf instruction wouldn’t teach this, would they. It doesn’t look like his weight gets this far right on controlled iron swings. One thing seems certain, he knows how to leverage his weight and strength to hit it far. Many ways to get it done, I guess. Maybe that’s why, in part, handicaps haven’t come down, endomorphs and ectomorphs trying to swing to an idealized body type like a mesomorph. I hope someone does a side by side of Scott and Cabrera. I’d like to learn more about both, especially Scott.
I can’t believe how talented Adam Scott is. First he wins the Masters, then goes on Conan and imitates, Adam Scott, the actor from Parks and Rec. Looks and sounds just like him. He should win an Emmy. (I’m here all week).
I still have the final round on my dvr. I will do my best to tape the swings with my casio. Does anyone know how to transfer dvr files to a computer?
You could post them on youtube… or email them to me and I can put it up on the server.
My hero, Angel Cabrera, wins in a playoff today in his home country, Argentina, at the 82 Abierto OSDE del Centro.
Very nice striking by Boo Weekley on the way to his win at Colonial today.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2oLjz5Yzo8[/youtube]
There must be more than one way to be a good ball-striker. Look where his clubface is pointing at the end of his follow-through!
A lot of good stuff going on there…
Colonial is more of a ballstrikers course. I think that’s why a lot of the top players skip the event. With all the history there, it should be a mandatory week to play for the top players.
What big names were not in the field this week?
interesting Q and A article From Hall Sutton on SI.com. Lag, you might want to team up with him and maybe push the golf governing bodies towards what golf used to be. It would be worth a shot???
Hall Sutton starts to talk about how the current golf manufactures have gone astray
Let me tell you what’s fun in golf – low scores. I mean, the manufacturers have tricked people into believing that distance is everything. There is no place on the scorecard that says you need to hit it 350 yards. No place. It’s a joke what’s going on today in the world of golf. In my opinion, we’ve cannibalized ourselves. We have fewer golfers, and we’re eating away [at the game] because rounds take too long, and we’re all out of whack with what our priorities are. I want to put respect back into the game. I want to put some understanding back into the game. There’s not enough people doing that sort of thing.
How do you think the governing bodies should have intervened – by dialing back the ball?
The ball, clubs, everything. Distance became most important. Manufacturers started driving the game. And they were about the all-mighty dollar. You can’t let somebody whose whole basis is money choose the direction of the game. See, the USGA needed to step up and say, “You can’t do this. This is outside the limits of the game.”
Read more: golf.com/tour-and-news/hal-s … z2aOhwP2eX
Hal Sutton
“But first you’ve got to turn the wheel.”
Not many are willing to even try turning the wheel.
I can only think of a few. Lag, Nicklaus, Bradley and now Sutton. I am sure there are more. With the state of golf today and the “new rocket ship ballz to the moon” clubs and all that, don’t look for any change anytime soon.
It was interesting to see some of today’s so called stars struggle at the U.S. Open and the Open Championship at Muirfield where you would have thought their superior length would have made a huge difference. Bubba Watson could barely find a fairway. And to hear the comments of Zach Johnson at the U.S Open or IJP at the Open Championship, although he sure changed his tune on Sunday, and the comments of many others. It was sad actually.
These are supposedly the best players int he world. Instead of embracing the challenge they… I will leave it up to each individual to finish that sentence.
What is the main issue with the current PGA players lack of accuracy? I know there isn’t just one thing, but it seems like to me that they are just going after every shot with everything they have. I remember as a kid reading in some Golf Mag during the '80s some article by a pro about how even they only went at it at about 80% to maintain accuracy. Not sure that is happening today. After watching some videos of players in the '60s and '70s, it looks like they weren’t trying to kill it every time like players today do. Just curious as to what everyone thinks.
I hadn’t watched golf in quite a while, and was watching it a little differently now that I have been frequenting this site. I was disappointed to see Sergio finish badly again. Seems the fourth day is not his thing. So what is his issue on the final days. Just pressure? Or is he taking his foot off the gas trying to change his strategy once in the lead for the final day. Interesting watching him swing though. With this new perspective and all.
Sergio has never really been able to handle the pressure. He definitely gets mad too easily. Hacking around in bunkers, throwing clubs. He is a prime example of why it takes more than just good striking to win on tour. Would I be any different? Not a clue. But he definitely needs to get his head in the game if he ever wants to win as mich as his talent should have allowed.
Came home from a round of golf today to a surprise on my DVD. Furyk’s history setting 59! 
What a refreshing round to watch compared to what we typically get. 100% fairways hit and 94% GIR. And he only averaged 262.5y driving distance (compared to Tiger at 329.5) so these weren’t wedges into par4’s (last one was).
Recent Golf Digest interview with Butch Harmon
When my dad Claude Harmon 1948 Masters Champion got old and couldn’t play anymore he would still go down to The Masters. They would set up a chair for himon the practice range and he’d watch players hit balls for hours. One day Lee Trevino was hitting balls next to Tom Purtzer. A man in the gallery came up to Dad and said “Mr Harmon, that Purtzer’s got a beautiful swing doesn’t he?”. My Dad answered “I dont know. I’m not watching him. I’m watching Trevino. He is playing golf, the other guy is playing pretty”. His point was, the golf swing is about impact and where the clubface is when it hits the ball…
I respect technology but I dont worship it. I may be the only teacher who doesnt go to golf tournaments with a video camera in hand. I think there is a downside to all these launch monitors also. Players are so consumed with the perfection of their swings that they dont focus on playing. The golf swing is obviously important, but when you look at all the 'unconventional ’ swings in the Hall of Fame, it’s obvious that knowing how to compete, to score and to work your way around the course is at LEAST as important. I try to teach the whole package…
One of the biggest arguments I get into is whether guys like Hogan, Nelson and Snead were as good as the players today. I maintain they were. Here’s my argument. If Hogan was super accurate with that old equipment he would obviously be even better with today’s clubs and balls…right? But if you took most of the players today and gave them persimmon woods and old balls, would they be as good as they are now? Most of them would be in serious trouble, because their eyes dont see shots that curve 40 yards and they would suddenly have to start fearing snap hooks, upshooters and other things that happened with the older equipment. So the old guys could absolutely do what the new guys are doing but not vice versa…End of argument…